My 2012 new year's resolution is to continue giving back to my community by sharing my research, education, training, and experience along with politics pertaining to health and eye care. My aspiration is to offer useful knowledge and value, and to provide the best possible vision to my patients.

Medicare has lowered the deductible from $162 to $140. This allows those with Medicare to use it in other areas. Most of us are very conscious of every dollar we spend, especially those on a fixed income. Although $22 doesn't seem like much, to some it might make the difference if they can afford an eye exam or not. I applaud Medicare for lowering their deductible and hope that many patients use this savings and make health care a priority this year.

On the political horizon, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in June 2012, to determine if Obama Care is constitutionally legal, in regards to mandating all Americans to buy health insurance. Everyone is waiting anxiously for the court's decision. This will be the first time the government will be dictating that you must buy a product. As a physician, I wonder how this result will impact my patients, as well as the rest of Americans.

In the Eye World, the use of the Femtosecond Laser is being implemented to assist physicians in cataract surgery. This laser helps reduce astigmatism during the cataract surgery process. Most of my patients have refractive errors including: nearsightedness, farsightedness, and/or astigmatism. This new implementation will help patients, especially those with astigmatism, the freedom of seeing better after their cataract surgery.

The introduction of a telescopic implant to help patients with macular degeneration has also arrived. Patients in the end stages of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) experience blind spots in their central (straight ahead) vision. This form of AMD impairs patients from everyday activities, such as reading, watching television, and even seeing faces. The telescopic implant has demonstrated to improve the central vision, so patients can again see straight ahead objects that are very important, such as the faces of loved ones. This new technology has gone through decades of research and development, and is a possibility to those who may have thought they lost their sight forever.

The new advances in cataract surgery, along with the break-through telescopic implant are just a few of the exciting new changes that I will be evaluating and determining if the value and outcome is best for my patients. As always, I strive to keep my patients, their family, and friends educated and informed of any and all new ideas, devices, and medicine in ophthalmology that can help improve their vision and also their lifestyles.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me directly at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . In addition, please look forward to the next article in the "Dr. Bello's Education & Knowledge" series.

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